As many of you may know by now I have some very real concerns about the growing anti-American sentiments that I’ve witnessed in Canada and around the world over the past few years. I have heard the “rationale” and I do understand the roots of these sentiments, but no matter how you slice it anti-Americanism, like other forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination is wrong and hurtful.
I get particularly worked up when I see our own publicly-funded national broadcaster jump on the bandwagon. The CBC has brought us Rick Mercer “Talking to Americans”, a juvenile attempt to portray our neighbors as ignorant; Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish stomping on a George Bush doll; and more recently we have Avi Lewis interviewing Ayaan Hirsi Ali. In addition to some very frank statements about the War on Terror, it offers a “fine” example of how our national broadcaster feels about our neighbour to the south:
When I showed this clip to a friend in California recently he had to leave the room in disgust. That’s how hard it was to watch.
If you have the stomach I suggest you read some of the comments from Lewis’ viewers: http://www.cbc.ca/onthemap/fullpage.php?id=84
Shameful.
Hi Mr. Keyes,
I couldn’t agree more with you about the anti-American obsession in Canada.
It makes me very angry to see that my taxes are being used to brainwash me and other Canadians to the stupid ideology that people like Mrs. Parrish and Mr. Lewis are pushing through.
It’s sad that the CBC is such an imature news organization.
I say to the feds: shut them down!
Regards,
Cosmin
Ottawa, ON
I think you’re being far too simplistic as to what “anti-Americanism” really is. I very much doubt if most people espousing what you call anti-American sentiments dislike all Americans as individuals. Rather, they are very likely referring to the most undesirable aspects of the American psyche, and in particular to the Bush administration and its abominable foreign and domestic policies. I was born and raised in the States but am no longer an American. I have relatives and friends still there. I consider myself as being anti-American in the sense I have just defined. Obviously I still love my family and friends there, and the many other decent Americans I know.
Anti-Americanism has absolutely nothing to do with race, bigotry, or discrimination – except in your mind.